04. 18. 2011
Facebook and Twitter release happy cuddle hormone
Scientists, thinkers and academics love to explore the ins and outs of why and how we use technology as part of our daily lives, particularly focusing on whether it has a damaging affect on the way we think and act.
There have been countless studies that supposedly reveal we're overloaded by information, our brains are now wired differently and we find real-life social interaction harder than ever before.
However, a study by professors at Claremont Graduate University revealed that using social networks like Facebook and Twitter actually releases a hormone called Oxytocin, which is referred to as the "cuddle hormone".
A Fast Company reporter offered to have his blood samples taken before and after he started to talk with friends on Twitter to see if his Oxytocin levels did in fact increase. According to Geek.com, his hormone levels shot up by around 13% and interestingly his cortisol levels (also known as "stress hormone") decreased by 11%.
As with all experiments of this nature, the results shouldn't be taken too seriously. The way you use social networks will have a huge impact on whether it's stressful for you or not, if it's just your close friends you interact with it's bound to have a different affect than if you follow or friend people that you don't particularly like!
Regardless of whether social networking makes you feel warm and cuddly or angry and irritated, it's certainly good to see some positive results for a change.
Via Geek.com. Image via Rumpleteaser.
Posted by Becca
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